The Answerman, Soccer 365’s football journalist Jerrad Peters, answers your questions on how Robinho’s move to Man City might affect the perennial fighters and Portsmouth is lovingly known as Pompey.

By Jarrad Peters

How will the acquisition of Robinho affect Manchester City?
-Brian, Chicago

A few weeks ago, I asked James Sharman – host of The Footy Show on The Score – what he thought of Dimitar Berbatov’s impending arrival at Old Trafford. His reply was that United’s signing of the Bulgarian striker would be “obscenely sick.” In other words, there would be no telling just how dominant the Red Devils could become with the 28-year-old leading the line.

I view Robinho’s arrival at Eastlands in a similar light. Without a doubt, the Brazilian forward is the most talented player to ever wear the sky-blue shirt. And, considering the strength of the squad around him, City are suddenly a side which could mount a challenge to the top-four as early as this season.

What makes the signing of Robinho even more incredible is the sensational manner in which it happened. Literally overnight, City were transformed from a middle-of-the-pack outfit with a criminal owner to a Premier League powerhouse backed by the fortune of Dr. Sulaiman Al-Fahim and his Abu Dhabi United Group (ADUG). What this means is that although the club broke the British transfer record in signing the forward and spent upwards of US$150-million over the summer transfer period, they are financially secure and are in no danger of becoming the next Leeds United.

Consider the full complement of players on manager Mark Hughes’ squad. Despite the sale of Vedran Corluka to Tottenham Hotspur, City’s backline will typically consist of Micah Richards, Richard Dunne, Tal Ben-Haim, and Michael Ball. And if Hughes would prefer to leave his central pairing of Richards and Dunne intact, he could deploy $11.5-million signing Pablo Zabaleta at right-back. Under-21 internationals Nedum Onuoha (England) and Javier Garrido (Spain) provide depth to an exceptional group.

In front of them, Belgium international and $10.7-million signing Vincent Kompany shelters the defenders. He was exceptional at Sunderland in his debut on Saturday – smothering the opposition while directing traffic in the middle of the park. Dietmar Hamman and Michael Johnson played just in front of him, although it would not be a surprise if Elano Blumer usurped one of them and assumed more of a playmaking role.

The return of Shaun Wright-Phillips had an immediate effect. After a three-year exile at Chelsea, the winger ran Pascal Chimbonda into the ground and notched two goals at the Stadium of Light. He played opposite Steve Ireland in support of lone striker Jo. The latter, also a Brazil international, could potentially form one-third of a dazzling Brazilian trio alongside Elano and Robinho. It is expected that Ireland will give way to Robinho when Chelea visit the City of Manchester Stadium on September 13.

Even without Robinho, City’s squad was good enough to contend for an automatic berth in the UEFA Cup. What the $57.8-million signing did, however, was reveal the extent of Al-Fahim’s ambitions for the club. In that, Robinho in as much a symbol of the club’s aspirations and spending power as anything else. Whether it all comes together on the pitch remains to be seen. But on paper, Manchester City have become one of the most formidable sides in English football.

Why is Portsmouth Football Club nicknamed Pompey?
-Kenneth

There is no single, definitive explanation regarding Portsmouth’s famous moniker. Perhaps that’s what makes the nickname “Pompey” so fascinating. It’s a true nickname with a good deal of legend behind it. And while one or two of the fables are rather far-fetched, others are realistic and perhaps true. All that is certain, however, is that “Pompey” refers, first and foremost, to the city of Portsmouth – not the football club. Here are a few of my favorite stories.

In 1781, a crew of sailors from Portsmouth arrived in Alexandria, Egypt and climbed Pompey’s Pillar. The pillar is a famous landmark and only remnant of the colonnade of the city’s ancient acropolis. Anyhow, the crew became known as the “Pompey Boys” and are said to have carried the nickname back to Portsmouth.

The city of Portsmouth was built near the ruins of Portus Adurni. A 3rd Century Roman outpost, the fort was used as a seaport and was intended to defend Britain from Saxon invaders. It is thought that later residents of Portchester and Portsmouth referred to the area as “Pompey,” in reference to the famous ruins of Pompeii near Naples, Italy.

In 1662, Charles II married Catherine of Braganza in Lisbon. The daughter of Portugal’s John IV, Catherine’s dowry included the Indian city of Bombay. Portuguese sailors thought the port of Bombay to be similar in appearance to the port at Portsmouth, and began referring to the latter as “Bom Bhia,” or Portsmouth in English.

Finally, vessels that enter Portsmouth harbor are required to record “Portsmouth Point” in their logbooks. But as the location is typically too long to write, they enter “Pom. P.” as their location instead.

Have a question about football? Email your query to jerradpeters@gmail.com.